Technical Help for Newbies

PLEASE GO TO YOUR EDIT PROFILE PAGE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED CORRECTLY.

Then go to ADVANCED SETTINGS (<<--click here)

(located under “Account” on the left side of the “edit profile” page or at-

https://www.houzz.com/settingsAdvanced )

Scroll down to "Privacy settings"

and select the option of “ALLOW ANYONE TO MESSAGE ME” under "Who can message me".

click on "UPDATE" when you are done to store your settings.

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To add your growing zone:

Go to ADVANCED SETTINGS

Look for - Climate Zone for Garden Forums - and fill in your zone.

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To make/edit your wants list:

Go to ADVANCED SETTINGS

-Then click on the box under “My GardenWeb Trading List”

-Type/paste in your seeds in a vertical list

(much easier to read than a horizontal list with commas between).

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To access these settings:

if you are currently logged in, click on your name anywhere on the

site, or the “Your Houzz” button at the top right of any page.

Then go to ===> Edit Profile ===> Advanced Settings (located under “Account”on the left)

also, this page can be accessed by going directly to the web address - https://www.houzz.com/settingsAdvanced

this is the page where you can edit your preferences, allow people to

email you, list your growing zone, and fill in your have/ want lists.

(THANKS LEILA for

putting this together!)

Hello! Im looking forward to getting a veggie garden started in my yard here in Texas! I’m excited to find this seed exchange. I’ll send a private message with more details. Thanks!

Hi! I am planning to try hydroponic gardening this year. I have done traditional backyard gardening for years but now that I'm retired and travel more I thought tower gardens (both indoor and outdoor) might work better for me. I would love to have strawberries in my tower along with all types of herbs and mixed greens for salads (lettuce varieties, spinach, arugula). I look forward to sharing my experiences and appreciate the opportunity to get started with this newbie seed project.

Hi I'm brand new to gardening and would love to have some seeds to help get a garden started. My husband and myself want to know where more of our food comes from and grow our own herbs fruit and vegetables. I'm also messaging you!

Val - I mailed you a package of seeds. Please let me know when they arrive. Thanks.

Hello, I'd love to get herb/veggie seeds for my little land I have in my backyard and start planting as soon as the weather is good for planting

Hi, I have a home with some land for the first time. And I'm loving trying various trees, shrubs, veggies, herbs. This is my first time trying anything from seed doing the winter sowing technique. I would love to start off small and this seems like a great way to try some veggies/herbs.

Hello! I'm so excited to find this community! I tried gardening about 7 years ago, but due to health problems, didn't have much success.

This year I will have 4 4x10' raised beds, and I'm so excited (and a little overwhelmed!). I currently do not have any seeds to get started with, and I was hoping to connect with others in order to share seeds (once I have some available). I'm very interested in open pollinated varieties so that I can save the seeds and share with others!

Hey! My name is Curtis and I recently moved from CA to VT and finally have a tiny bit of land to plant on (.5 acre). I'm excited to take my hobby gardening and transition it to the majority of my food production in the unforgiving climate of VT!

Hello, from Alaska. With the long winter, Im looking forward to having some fresh vegetables. Id be much appreciatitve to recieve some seeds. I'll be messaging you with info requested. Thank you.

Nicole: You messaged me, but must post here and set up your messaging please.

Kenneth, please message me your information via private message per the above post requests. Thank you!

Hello! I am so grateful to find this. I would love flower seeds. A couple of years ago we moved into a new house and garden in zone 4 Michigan (from Zone 6) and while I've been growing vegetables, i'd really like to have more flowers this year.

Hi everyone! I'm excited to have happened across this forum. As a child, I spent countless hours in the garden with my grandfather. I can remember the excitement on his face every time I asked if I could come help. One of my favorite memories is picking snap peas when my grandpa looked over asking if my basket was full. I had been doing the "2 for me, 1 for the basket" gig so I just giggled. My grandpa had the biggest grin on his face and we spent the better part of that evening just laughing in the garden. That was the last gardening season we had together. Next week - Valentine's Day - marks 27 years since my grandfather passed. I feel closest to him in the garden and cannot wait to get back in the dirt.

We recently moved to Tennessee (zone 7a) and now have the space to create the food forest I have always dreamed of. Our "garden" will encompass the better part of 3/4 acre in our front yard. I intend to use permaculture principles as well as hugelkulture(sp?) to develop a low-maintenance food source. If anyone has any tips on permaculture I am looking for as much knowledge as possible. My grandfather's garden was much smaller than what I am planning and he used traditional gardening practices.

The goal is to be self-sufficient in at least 80% of our produce and eventually grains. We travel too much to raise our own proteins so I intend to grow enough produce to swap with others. That being said, free and/or cheap seeds will help make this dream a reality.

Question - For herbs, what are your opinions on planting them in the food forest versus having an herb garden close to the kitchen? This is one piece I haven't been able to fully decide. On one hand I see the benefits of keeping them in the forest (pollination, pest control, nutrients, etc) but I also like the idea of having them closer to the kitchen.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Happy planting,

Melissa

Hi melissa,

I think where you plant your herbs is totally (IMHO) your choice. I do plant some herbs esp'lly basil in a keg planters on my deck because it's so convenient, but I'll be planting more in a veggie garden area that we've just set up this past fall. You can do either or both. I would think the pollinators will find your herbs even if they are not within your 'forest'; mine do, but in full disclosure, I have alot of flowers around my deck too! Maybe you can try both if and see which works best for you...if you are so inclined!

I got your private message and wil reply

Guess I better create a February Newbie post!

Val, thank you for your response. I think I'll try both locations and see what works best. I'll get an envelope out to you tomorrow.

I have responded to everyone above. If you have not heard from me, I did not get a Private Message from you.

Kenneth Britt, no message from you -- ?